Simon Mann jailed for seven years

A court in Zimbabwe today sentenced British mercenary Simon Mann to seven years in prison for attempting to buy arms to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea.

The court also handed down 16-month sentences to the two pilots of a plane that landed in Zimbabwe in March carrying dozens of suspected mercenaries. The 65 men who were on the plane were convicted of immigration offences and given 12-month sentences.

Mann, a former SAS officer and co-founder of security group Executive Outcomes, admitted trying to buy assault rifles, grenades, anti-tank rocket launchers and other weapons from Zimbabwe Defence Industries. He and the 65 mercenaries were arrested at Harare international airport on March 7 as they awaited delivery of the weapons.

Prosecutors said the arms were destined for Equatorial Guinea where Mann, 51, and his co-accused intended to take part in a coup to overthrow the president, Teodoro Obiang. At a court hearing last month Mann was acquitted of an additional charge of taking possession of the weapons.

Mann claimed the weapons were destined to protect a mining operation in war-torn eastern Congo.

"I am devastated. I can't believe it. They have already done six months and with this sentence it is now 18 months," Marge Pain, whose husband was a passenger on the plane, told the Reuters news agency. Relatives of the men broke down and wept as the ruling was handed down.

One of Mann's former associates at Executive Outcomes, Nick du Toit, is currently on trial for his life in Equatorial Guinea for his part in the alleged plot. Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, has been charged in South Africa with helping to fund the plot via a payment to a third party. He has been subpoenaed to answer questions on September 22. Sir Mark denies any involvement or knowledge of the coup.

A total of 88 people are in custody in South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe in connection with the plot.

Equatorial Guinea wants to question a number of other Britons over allegations they financed the coup plot in Africa's third-largest oil producing nation. The Guardian today reported that a so-called "wonga list" of alleged millionaire backers of the aborted coup is said to have been handed over to South African police by two of Mann's former colleagues.

According to the list, seen by the Guardian, Mann paid $500,000 (£281,000) towards the coup. Ely Calil, a London-based Lebanese oil millionaire, is alleged to have raised another $750,000. Mr Calil's lawyer has denied that his client had any knowledge of the plot.